To many, the idea of owning a classic car is an impossible dream purely because of how much any form of vintage car can cost. Yet amazingly, the market is full of classics that even the most frugal of us can get their hands on.
These aren't just basic, bare-bones classic cars with no performance, either. They are cheap cars from all segments, such as sports cars, muscle cars, and even some that are close to supercar standards.
We've brought together 13 of the best classic cars out there that those of us who are frugal can buy. You can pick all of these up for around $20,000 and, in many cases, lower, and our list includes a muscle car with nearly 400-hp and an Italian sports sedan that sold for $40,000 when it was new!
MG MGB
The British MG MGB is the quintessential classic English sports car, offering one of the best budget-friendly options for those who love classics. MG produced the MGB from 1965 to 1980, with the earlier versions particularly delightful to look at thanks to their chrome bumpers and trim. Under the hood, the MGB packed a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 95-hp.
MG would later change the appearance of the MGB somewhat, thanks to the addition of plastic bumpers. While not as pretty, the MGB retained its incredible agility and nippy performance with its little four-cylinder engine. Their simplicity means they are not the most expensive car to maintain either.
Triumph Spitfire
While it is not without its problems, the Triumph Spitfire is another excellent, classic British sports car. As the name suggests, it takes its name from the iconic Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft of World War 2, one of the best aircraft of the conflict. Triumph produced the Spitfire from 1962 to 1980, and it proved a real head-turner.
Rust was a problem on earlier models, but Triumph worked hard to rectify this as much as possible on later versions. Triumph evolved the Spitfire over five generations with three versions of its inline-four under the hood. Generations one and two had the 1,147 cc engine, while generations three and four had the 1,296 engine. The fifth generation had the 1,493 cc inline-four under the hood.
Alfa Romeo GTV-6
Everyone who is a gearhead or petrolhead loves Alfa Romeos, but few of us are lucky enough to own one. One of the best options is the gorgeous Alfa Romeo GTV-6, followed by the legendary GTV and the equally popular Alfetta.
The GTV-6 had big shoes to fill, but it filled them well. It became a fine sports car, with the 2.5-liter V6 with Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection producing up to 160-hp and 157 lb-ft of torque. Reliability could be a problem, but the GTV-6 is one of Alfa Romeo's finest vehicles when they run well.
Lotus Esprit Series 4
Lotus is a name that resonates with many sports car enthusiasts, and the Esprit is one of their most famous models. The Esprit evolved heavily over the years, yet the last generation, Series 4 of 1993 to 2004, might be the best. By this point, Lotus had ironed out many of the problems that afflicted the earlier versions of the Esprit.
The addition of power steering and anti-lock brakes elevated the Esprit Series 4's feel. Under the hood was a 2.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 264-hp and 290 lb-ft of torque. The 350 hp V8 Turbo Series 4 Esprit was offered for those who wanted more power.
Seventh-Generation Toyota Celica
The seventh-generation Toyota Celica is much more of a modern classic than an outright classic. Yet, it is regularly overlooked, usually favoring earlier versions of the Toyota MR2, the Supra, and earlier Celicas. But the seventh-gen Celica is an excellent sports car, produced from 1999 to 2006 by the Japanese manufacturer.
Under the hood are two versions of the Toyota 1.8-lite inline-four engine: the 1ZZ-FED with 140 hp and the more powerful yet less economical 2ZZ-GE, developed with Yamaha. This produced 192-hp. The seventh-gen Celica was also the last, and the sports car has yet to return to the Toyota lineup.
2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R
If you want a classic version of the Ford Mustang, look no further than the 2000 SVT Cobra R. While it might not have the allure and enigma of earlier Mustangs, the 2000 SVT Cobra was the pinnacle of the New Edge Mustang, thanks to its massive 5.4-liter V8 under the hood.
The V8 produced 385-hp and 385 lb-ft of torque, a massive jump over earlier versions of the SVT Cobra. This ensured that the Mustang could compete with even Ferrari on the track, in both the corners and straights. Handling was improved thanks to the Eibacj springs and lower ride height, making the new Mustang a joy to drive in the twisty stuff.
First-Generation Ford Mustang
While it might seem weird that older Ford Mustangs are cheap classic cars, you can pick a first-generation Mustang up for good money. Thanks to how many Fords have been produced and how many remain, decent-condition ones are available and reasonably priced.
There are more positives to owning an early Mustang, too. Spare parts are aplenty, with a host of garages and specialists dealing in Mustangs to help keep them on the road. Plus, you will own one of the most eye-catching classic cars with some genuinely iconic styling. The original Mustang arguably put the muscle car segment on the map and made it so famous.
Matra-Simca Rancho
On paper, there is no logical reason why you would own a Matra-Simca Rancho. It might look like a Range Rover, but this unusual SUV is nothing like its British cousin. The Ranch launched in 1977, and it is just a Simca/Talbot 1100 pickup truck with a new body section on the rear replacing the bed,
All Matra did was lengthen the Rancho's chassis and produce the new polyester and glass fiber body. Thanks to its design, it certainly had charm, but it was useless off-road as it only had two-wheel drive. The 1.4-liter 80-hp engine was also never going to produce a lot of excitement. Matra produced just 58,000 Ranchos for the U.K., but their obscurity and average reception at the time have made them classic car bargains.
Lancia Thema 8.32
Right now, values for the Lancia Thema 8.32 are steady and affordable. A look at Car and Classic right now will reveal them on sale for as low as $16,000, yet for your money, you're getting one of the finest sports sedans ever made.
Lancia produced the Thema 8.32 in the 1980s as its answer to the BMW M5. It was a sportier, high-performance version of the regular Thema. Under the hood was a Ferrari-developed 3.0-liter F105L V8, modified with a cross-plane to better suit grand touring-style driving. The Thema 8.32 is exceptional, although Lancia sold fewer than they had hoped, thanks to its high $40,000 retail price.
Jaguar XJS
The Jaguar E-Type is the British sports car many of us want, but due to its value, it's also the one many of us can't have. For a more affordable alternative, however, check out the Jaguar XJS, which followed on from the popular E-Type. Jaguar knew following on from the E-Type would be tough, but it gave it a good go with the new XJS.
Malcolm Sayer and Doug Thorpe did the styling jointly, and Thorpe continued the design after Sayer passed away. At launch, the XJS had a 5.3-liter V12 under the hood, and Jaguar would later add a straight-six to the range to make it more economical. It was never as popular as the E-Type, which means it has become an affordable classic.
Renault 4
The Renault 4 offers something very different from the classic car scene. This small, quirky, and cute little Renault first appeared in the 1960s, and Renault saw it as a way to outdo Citroen and their aging 2CV. While the 2CV remained popular, the design had changed little since the 1940s, and the Renault 4 was a modern alternative.
Under the hood was a small, water-cooled 600 cc 1.1-liter four-cylinder engine. It was not a powerful engine, but it was economical and perfect for such a little car. The newer styling of the Renault 4 really resonated with the French public, and it would remain in production from 1961 to 1994, three years after Citroen ended production of the 2CV.
Citroen BX
If you are looking for a quirky and innovative classic car that many of your friends might not have ever heard about, look no further than the Citroen BX. The remarkable BX might look relatively mundane, but after its launch in 1982, it became an instant hit in Europe.
The design was by the legendary Marcello Gandini, the same man who designed the incredible Lamborghini Countach. Underneath that gorgeous exterior was Citroen's highly regarded hydropneumatic suspension, making the BX one of the most exciting and comfortable family cars on the market. Power came from a turbocharged 16-valve inline-four engine, and later, Citroen added naturally aspirated inline-fours and a diesel option to the range.
Lotus Elan M100
Many people look for Classic Lotus Elans in earlier, more stylish versions of the British sports car. However, the later M100 is arguably the best version of the Elan, despite Lotus misjudging what the market wanted when it debuted.
As with nearly every Lotus, the Elan M100 was very lightweight, making it a joy to drive in the corners. An innovative feature was its independent suspension all around and under the hood; the sports car had an Isuzu twin-cam turbocharged engine. That might not sound exciting, but the Isuzu was very reliable, and it was enough to give the little M100 192-hp. More than enough for some fun on twisty country roads.
